Hickory man that robbed a Granite Falls convenience store in 2016 has been convicted

NEWTON, NC (January 30, 2019) — Ahmad Shakim Smith, 19, of Hickory, will spend four to six years in prison after being convicted of two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of common law robbery and accessory after the fact to robbery with a dangerous weapon during Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.

The Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, imposed the sentence for Smith, who will serve the term in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections after pleading guilty to the crimes.

Smith and a co-defendant were involved in the two robberies with a dangerous weapon that occurred on May 12, 2016.

The first occurred in the early-morning hours at a convenience store in Granite Falls. Smith entered the store wearing sunglasses and a bandana, and held the clerk at gunpoint, taking cash and a cigar blunt wrap.

The second happened at a Hickory business some time later that morning. Smith and the co-defendant both entered the store wearing sunglasses and clothing to conceal their identity. Smith robbed a clerk at gunpoint, leaving the store with cash.

The common law robbery charge came as a result of Smith being one of four individuals who robbed a man in Newton of shoes and a quantity of marijuana.

The charge for accessory after the fact was a result of the defendant allowing two co-defendants who robbed a restaurant to change their clothes and hide the weapon used at his home.

The cases were investigated by officers from Hickory Police Department, Granite Falls Police Department and Newton Police Department. Melanie Earles prosecuted the cases for the District Attorney’s Office.